# NTSB SEA83AA176: Fairchild Hiller FH-1100, N29917, Toutle, WA, August 13, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: August 13, 1983, 10:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: Toutle, WA
- Coordinates: 46.309406, -122.689849 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3094&lon=-122.6898&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39590
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA83AA176
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39590/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA83AA176

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, unknown
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER TOOK OFF ON A SIGHT-SEEING, PASSENGER FLT IN THE MOUNT ST HELENS AREA. WHEN THE FLT BECAME OVERDUE, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. LATER, THE HELICOPTER WAS FOUND WHERE IT CRASHED & BURNED IN A HEAVILY WOODED AREA ON RELATIVELY LEVEL TERRAIN, NEAR THE NORTH FORK OF THE TOUTLE RIVER, AT AN ELEVATION OF APRX 800 FT. THERE WERE NO KNOWN WITNESSES. AN EXAM OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THAT ONLY THE TREES WITHIN 34 FT OF THE WRECKAGE WERE DAMAGED. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, BUT THE N1 RPM GAGE WAS FOUND AT 72%, THE N2 RPM GAGE WAS AT 43% & THE ROTOR RPM GAGE WAS AT 35%. A LACK OF ROTATIONAL DAMAGE WAS NOTED ON THE MAIN & TAIL ROTOR BLADES. THE FUEL CONTROL, FUEL GOVERNOR & FUEL PUMP WERE DESTROYED BY FIRE. SOME ROTATIONAL DAMAGE WAS NOTED IN THE ENG. HOWEVER, NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS VERIFIED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N29917 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Fairchild Hiller FH-1100
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 57
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C18B 274 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Terry A. Witham
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 8, 1983, 12 hours before
- Departed: KID VALLEY, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,024 total, 391 in this make and model, 3,896 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TDO, 12 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830813040689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830813040689A), Aug 13, 1983: Hiller FH1100, Castle Rock, WA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Sightseeing helicopter crashed into a densely forested area and burned. No witnesses. No engine defects found.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.